Kent, Surrey & Sussex Labrador Retriever Club

Kent, Surrey & Sussex Labrador Retriever Club - Championship Show

Sunday, 24 March 2024

I always look forward to judging my first breed, Labradors and to do so at a club show is extra special, particularly as this was the fiftieth anniversary of the club. To have Mrs Carole Coode, who has been associated with the club for so many years, served as Chairman and is now the President, as co-judge was extra special and all decisions were in total agreement. Thank you to my two most excellent stewards who kept things running so smoothly throughout the day.

Whilst I think it is true to say that there might not be the DEPTH of quality that there once was, I was pleased with the winners. Competition was strong in Limit and Open was the best class of the day with top drawer bitches right down the line.

I was looking for an unexaggerated Labrador that was the right balance and proportions (good length of leg), which combined substance with quality, was well made all through with the essentials of head, coat and tail – the hallmarks of TYPE – and a sound, free mover.

DCC and BIS was Johnson’s Sh Ch Cremino Calabrese;

BCC and RBIS was Edwards’ Sh Ch Kimbajak Miss Jazz Swinger;

BPIS was Woodley’s Alkhamhurst London Girl;

BVIS Carpanini’s Sh Ch Carpenny Portia.

17. Retriever (Labrador) - Veteran Bitch

Entries: 8 Absentees: 3

1ST Sh Ch Carpenny Portia (Mrs P Carpanini), lovely type, totally unexaggerated, feminine black of quality and substance, excellent head with good eye shape, colour and length of muzzle, well made in front and hindquarters with good short coupled body, correct double coat of good texture, sound true mover who carried herself on a good stride in profile, rather stood out;

2ND Buckholt Bridget Jones at Bournecott (Mrs M & Mr J Tomsett), similar type black with pleasing head and eye, good coat and tail, pleasing size and balance, shown in excellent condition;

3RD Woolman Proper Dream Maker (Mrs Y Shirton)

18. Retriever (Labrador) - Minor Puppy Bitch

Entries: 4 Absentees: 1

1ST Rochevale Sapphire (Miss C Rowe). Six months yellow baby who was really enjoying her day with the promise of being quite a showgirl, has style, adequate bone, feminine all through, very good hindquarters with width of thigh and well let down hocks, good body, coat and tail, moved soundly in all directions;

2ND Treantagh Alessia (Mrs J Rowley), pleasing type black with pleasing head and eye colour of pleasing shape, short coupled with good ribs, has promise;

3RD Handialla Lady in Red at Ballaremuera (Mrs W A Jury)

19. Retriever (Labrador) - Puppy Bitch

Entries: 12 Absentees: 2

1ST Alkhamhurst London Girl (Mrs M A Woodley), lovely type bitch of quality and style, just the right size and correct substance without a hint of being overdone, totally unexaggerated, very appealing head with good length of muzzle and correct eye shape and colour, good legs and feet, short coupled body, strong topline held on the move, well set tail, scores in coat and tail shape, moved soundly and shows with verve, BPIS;

2ND Woolman Wish Upon A Star (Mrs Y Shirton), pleasing black of similar type, good size and overall balance, liked her head, length of muzzle, good topline, big ribs and strong hindquarters, moved soundly;

3RD Timouron Confidential (Mrs C & Mr D Allen)

20. Retriever (Labrador) - Junior Bitch

Entries: 10 Absentees: 2

1ST Centenalee Angelic at Rocheby (Miss C Rowe), feminine, good type black of pleasing balance, pleasing head shape with correct length of muzzle, well boned legs, short coupled body, well ribbed back, good coat and tail and very good hindquarters with width of thigh and well let down hocks, sound true mover;

2ND Rumhill Bossy Boots JW (Ms C Boulden), chocolate of pleasing type and size, well sprung ribs, very good hindquarters, pleasing coat, just preferred the femininity and shorter coupled body of 1 but a very nice bitch;

 3RD Lembas Black Betty (Mr C J & Mrs C E Mills)

21. Retriever (Labrador) - Yearling Bitch

Entries: 8 Absentees: 4

1ST Rochevale Gypsy at Sheenaron JW (Mrs R M Phillips), feminine, well balanced yellow who was shown in lovely condition, well balanced with good legs and feet, super topline which was held on the move, short coupled body, very good tailset and otter-like tail, moved soundly;

2ND Crosscroyde Chianti (Mrs A & Mr R J & Mrs S Lavelle & Lavelle & Wiles), stylish, showy yellow, upstanding and well balanced overall, excels in topline, balance and a sound mover especially in profile;

 3RD Rochevale Palm Reader JW (Miss Z R Davis)

22. Retriever (Labrador) - Novice Bitch

Entries: 15 Absentees: 3

1ST Rochevale Harmony (Miss C Rowe), yellow baby of 6 months, littermate to winner of MPB and very similar (although I think this one has the edge), pleasing legs, feet, body, topline, coat and tail, super hindquarters, sound moving in all directions and quite a showgirl already, has lots of promise;

2ND Linthwaite Mathilda (ai) (Mrs J King), pleasing type yellow, pleasing head shape, short coupled body, strong hindquarters, moved soundly;

3RD Baileydale Oops A Daisy for Willokin (Miss J Digweed)

23. Retriever (Labrador) - Undergraduate Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 1

1ST Gamesmere Clementina (Mrs S A Lewis), yellow shown in super condition, has good length of leg, has good overall balance and strength with femininity, pleasing head, really good topline held on the move, well muscled hindquarters, pleasing tail shape, moved soundly;

2ND Linthwaite Mathilda (ai) (Mrs J King)

3RD Ramsayville Gigi at Taligal (ai) JW (Miss K & Miss C & Miss E O'neill)

24. Retriever (Labrador) - Graduate Bitch

Entries: 12 Absentees: 2

1ST Crosscroyde Cheeky Emma (Mr & Mrs R J Lavelle), very nice yellow of good type and overall balance, has correct length of leg, pleasing head shape, good eye shape, pleasing legs and feet, short coupled body with good topline, well-muscled and shown in good condition, sound mover fore and aft and carries herself well in profile on a good stride;

2ND Trewinnard Bespoke (Mrs L J Kent), typical yellow with very nice head, eye and expression, has a kindness about her, short coupled, big ribs, well muscled hindquarters, sound mover;

3RD Kimbajak Hip Hop to The Top (Ms C M Edwards)

25. Retriever (Labrador) - Post Graduate Bitch

Entries: 7 Absentees: 1

1ST Berlan First in Line at Sandylands (Mr E & Mrs E Casey & Jayes), neat, sweet, feminine showgirl shown in superb condition, with very good coat and tail, she is short coupled, has good legs and feet, super topline, sound and true on the move;

2ND Saranden The River (Mr D N & Mrs S A Mclellan), yellow of very pleasing type, pleasing head shape, good bone, depth of body, good ribs, strong hindquarters, pushed hard;

3RD Woolman Carefree (Mrs Y Shirton)

26. Retriever (Labrador) - Limit Bitch – this was a very good class

Entries: 19 Absentees: 4

1ST Chyanhal Trevose of Trewinnard JW (Mrs L J Kent), this is a lovely type of black, she is all Labrador in type and temperament, has strength without any hint of coarseness, pleasing head shape with good length of muzzle, good bone and feet, deep well ribbed body with barrel rib, strong hindquarters, sound mover, shown in mint condition, would make a worthy title holder;

2ND Abbeystead Glamour at Tanronens (Mrs A Deane), another I have judged and liked before and my opinion has not changed, she pushed hard and would carry a title deservingly, correct overall balance and shape, pleasing head shape, kind eye, good ribs and hindquarters with width of thigh, good tail shape, moves soundly and shows well, another that would be worthy of a title, losing her coat rather obviously distracted slightly from the cleanness of her outline;

3RD Trendlewood Simply The Best JW (Mr D L & Mrs F E M Braddon)

27. Retriever (Labrador) - Open Bitch – the best class of the day with quality right down the line

Entries: 10 Absentees: 1

1ST Sh Ch Kimbajak Miss Jazz Swinger JW (Ms C M Edwards), took my eye immediately she came into the class, has such class, style and quality and is built so that she cannot stand wrongly, just the right size and balance, no hint of being overdone yet full of substance, pleasing head with good length of muzzle, well made front, good short coupled body with short loin and depth of chest, excellent topline and tailset, super hindquarters with width of thigh and well let down hocks, otter-like tail that wagged gently, has a lovely stride and outline in profile and moves soundly, especially true in front, shown in lovely coat and condition, I awarded her the RCC 18 months ago when just into Junior and was delighted to see that she had more than fulfilled the promise I saw that day, a pleasure to award her the CC, later RBIS;

2ND Sh Ch Baileydale Dizzy Miss Lizzy (Mr A & Mrs J Metcalfe), lovely type black who is just the right balance and shape, super legs and feet, well boned with good short coupled body, big ribs and short loin, super strong topline, proper double coat of correct texture, excellent topline and tailset, tail is just the right shape, drives from behind and moves true in front, good stride in profile, pushed hard and fully deserved the RBCC;

3RD Sh Ch Rochevale Once Upon A Time (Miss C Rowe)

28. Retriever (Labrador) - Special Beginners Bitch

Entries: 11 Absentees: 1

1ST Bellamar Love Me Do JW (Ms M & Mrs B & Mr M Glaister & Bordacs & Bordacs), black of pleasing type, size and proportions, pleasing head, good width of thigh, moved soundly, would just prefer a better tail carriage on the move;

2ND Rochevale Water Lily (ai) (Mr D Clayton), fit and feminine yellow, great extrovert, short coupled, good hindquarters, sound mover;

3RD Brynlluan Black Diamond at Bowsian (Mrs S H Evans)

30. Retriever (Labrador) - Special Working Bitch

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST Briwed Flo Nightingale (Mrs P Spratt), fit, feminine yellow shown in good condition, pleasing head, short coupled body, great extrovert;

31. Retriever (Labrador) - Special Show/Working Bitch

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST Leospring East Indie (Mr C Rose), very nice chocolate of pleasing size and balance, has substance with quality good bone, proper double coat and tail, big barrel ribs, short coupled, very well angulated hindquarters (although moves a little close behind), strong topline held on the move, could surely have held her own with more competition;

32. Retriever (Labrador) - Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch

Entries: 6 Absentees: 0

1ST Linthwaite Mathilda (ai) (Mrs J King)

2ND Briwed Flo Nightingale (Mrs P Spratt)

David R Craig (Judge)